Jack Daniel - American Whiskey Trail | DISCUS American Whiskey Trail Forgot Password? Like DISCUS on Facebook Stay updated on the latest issues impacting the spirits industry. The DISCUS Facebook page contains news clips, action alerts and opportunities to get involved. Like us now! read more Understanding Moderation Part of responsible drinking is understanding that a standard drink of beer, distilled spirits and wine each contains the same amount of alcohol. It's not what you drink, it's how much that counts. read more Committed to Responsibility For more than 75 years, the spirits industry has adhered to a rigorous set of standards for beverage alcohol advertising and marketing. Click here to learn more about the Code. Jack Daniel Jack Daniel Distillery (Lynchburg, TN) Be sure you allow time for a guided tour of the oldest registered distillery in the United States when you visit Jack Daniel's in Lynchburg, Tennessee. You'll meet some friendly people, learn how the famous Tennessee whiskey has always been made and even get a chance to take a picture with a life-size statue of Mr. Jack. The making of Jack Daniel's whiskey was set down by its founder, Jack Daniel, and has been maintained and preserved for over 140 years.

You'll see the process that makes this Tennessee whiskey truly unique. Guided tours are available daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day). For more distillery tour information or to take a virtual tour, visit the website at . American whiskey from the USA The casks used (the most) in Scotland are ex-bourbon casks. The American law specifies that the casks can be used just once for bourbon, so the Scots are able to pick up second hand casks for cheap. A bourbon mash usually contains 70-80% of corn. The 'recipe' also includes small quantities of other cereals like malted barley, rye & wheat. Bernheim NAS 'Original' (45%, OB, Kentucky Straight Wheat Whisky, USA, Bottled +/- 2006) Nose: Very sweet but little complexity. Very much like a bourbon, actually. Enjoyable but simple. After ten minutes of breathing it opened up a bit - but not enough to make my heart grow much fonder. Taste: Bourbony.

Hot and smooth, but just like the nose it offers very little complexity. Score: 47 points - based on my very limited experience so far, rye whiskey seems to offer more potential. That being said; I imagine this wheat whiskey was matured in a fresh but not very good cask. Should have used a 2nd hand cask? George Dickel Original Tennessee Finest Quality Sippin' Whisky Superior No. 12 Brand (43%, USA, 100cl, Bottled +/- 1999) (This whisky - spelled without the extra 'e' here - is distilled at the Cascade Hollow Distillery in Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA) Nose: Did somebody fart? It wasn't me and I'm the only one here... A little dusty. Bourbony. Chemical candy fruits. Liquorice All Sorts? Very strange... The profile reminded me of Jack Daniels, but it seems more complex. Taste: A flat bite. Dryish. Milk powder. Fruits. A little sweeter after a while - and perhaps a little smoother as well.

Score: 47 points - sippin' indeed - although everybody would be well advised to avoid large gulps. Although I have to say I didn't find it all that 'superior', it's one of the better bourbons I've tried. Jack Daniels 'Old No. 7 Brand' (40%, OB, Tennessee Sour Mash whiskey, Bottled +/- 2005) Nose: Sweet with sharper, smoky edges. Liqueurish. Big without a lot of substance on closer inspection. Perhaps whiffs of vanilla and tangerine? Or perhaps 'Crï¿½me Brulee' - but that might also be the caramel association. Taste: Slick and sweet start, replaced by a long woody burn. Loses points in the long, cloying aftertaste. Score: 39 points - here is one of the few whiskeys that I prefer to enjoy with some ice. Maker's Mark NAS (45%, OB, 7/28/94, Bourbon, USA, Bottled +/- 2002) American whiskey is usually spelled with an extra 'e', but in this case the front label says 'Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky'.

Darned 'artists' - don't you just hate it when they draw outside the lines? Nose: Extremely sweet - a bit like Jack Daniels but more subtle. Grainy with something faintly fruity (orange skins?) in the background. Paint thinner. Glue. Not my cup of tea. It does open up a little with time, though. Peanuts? Quite different from malt whisky. Smoke? Growing complexity, more organics. Mint? Some breathing obviously had a positive effect. Taste: Flat start, growing deeper, sweeter and hotter in the centre. Pleasant but superficial. Rough and uninspired finish. Score: 48 points - I've never been a big bourbon fan and obviously the Maker's Mark is not going to change that. There's something in the superficial slickness of these American whiskeys that just rubs me the wrong way... Old Farm 1938/1943 100 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey (50%, OB, USA) - a sample from Hans Offringa. Nose: Woohaah! Wood and fruits, not unlike the Glen Grant. Rich and fruity. Smoke and organics after half a minute.

Unfortunately, the magnificent nose loses steam after ten minutes. Something metallic? Then pure grain smells emerge. It has lost most complexity after fifteen minutes, but has grown notably sweeter in character. More oatmeal and grains. Taste: Rich and smooth with growing amounts of wood and smoke. More meaty notes with refreshing hints of mint. Wow! Unfortunately it loses steam after a while, just like the nose. Almost takes a medicinal direction at times. Smooth & sweet Verdict: 90 points - making it by far the best American whiskey I've EVER tried! Thanks, Hans! A real eye-opener. Not quite as complex as the Glen Grant - but what would you expect after just five years in the cask... Amazing... The sweetness emerging from the empty glass is an experience in itself. That lifted it from 89 to 90 points. Old Portrero 11yo (50%, OB, Bottled +/- 2006, USA) Nose: Whooh... Paint thinner at first. Sweet. Then 'older' fruity notes emerge. Like 'Asbach Uralt' brandy. It lacks complexity compared to Scotch whisky, but I enjoy it more than most bourbons like Jim Beam.

After about half an hour the nose finally opened up a bit more, with some dust perhaps water melon. Taste: Again, some chemical paint thinner in the start. More like a bourbon here than in the nose. Sweet. Very smooth mouth feel with an evaporating finish, just like most bourbon whiskeys I've tried. Score: 54 points - to tell you the truth I had expected more after some people raved about it. St. George Lot 3 (43%, OB, Single malt whiskey, USA, Bottled +/- 2002) (From 100% malted barley, without any peat and distilled just once in a relatively small 'Holstein Still'.) Nose: What's that? It's like walking into a wedding cake bakery. Marzipan & lots of fruits. And not the 'European' fruits like apples or strawberries I often find in Scotch single malts. This has all kinds of 'exotic' fruits like passion fruit, grenade apple and overripe mango. A very enjoyable experience. Taste: Ooh, that's too bad. Very little of the sweetness has transferred to the palate. Young and brash.

It actually tastes very much like some grappa's and eaux de vie I've tried. With time it gains some more depth and gravitas, but in the end it remains a little too flat and chemical I'm afraid. Score: 67 points - not bad at all for a malt that's composed of mostly three year old whisk(e)y! Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey 2001 (47%, OB, Bottled +/- 2006, USA) Nose: Fruity, expressive and quite chemical. The fruits become ever more dominant over time. Quite exquisite and surprisingly complex. Black currants, cassis, some raspberries, 'fruits de bois'. Taste: Ough.... Here the chemicals have overpowered the fruits. They return in the finish though... Score: 68 points - still a little rough around the edges, but interesting and quite enjoyable. Tasting notes for a few American whiskeys The funny thing is that the legal requirements I just mentioned apply to the US market exclusively. If bourbons are produced for markets outside the USA, the producers are not bound by these rules if they want to sell their product as 'bourbon whiskey' anywhere outside the US.

The same is true for the rules and regulations regarding the various other types of American whiskey; - Corn whiskey (whiskey distilled from a mash consisting of at least 80% corn - a.k.a. maize) - Malt whiskey (whiskey distilled from a mash consisting of at least 51% malted barley) - Rye whiskey (whiskey distilled from a mash consisting of at least 51% rye) - Rye malt whiskey (whiskey distilled from a mash consisting of at least 51% malted rye) - Wheat whiskey (whiskey distilled from a mash consisting of at least 51% wheat) Apart from 'federal' regulations that apply to all states of the USA, there are also different state laws and local regulations w.r.t. the production, labelling and consumption of alcohol. That means that there is far more to tell about American whiskey than I'm able to here. This 'Deviant Drams' section is a mere diversion from the main focus of the Malt Madness website: single malt (Scotch) whisky. My knowledge of and experience with world whiskies and other alcoholic beverages is relatively limited, but I have plenty to say about single malt Scotch whisky.

For example, there's a Beginner's Guide to Single Malts with 10 pages filled with lots of useful information for (relative) beginners and the 'Distillery Data' section has profiles for over a hundred malt whisky distilleries. Clicking on one of the links below will take you directly to the distillery profile of that particular whisky distillery in Scotland. Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey | Jack Daniel's JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY LYNCHBURG, TENNESSEE JACK DANIEL’S, OLD NO. 7, TENNESSEE FIRE, TENNESSEE HONEY, AND GENTLEMAN JACK are registered trademarks of Jack Daniel's. © 2017. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION, VISIT RESPONSIBILITY.ORG AND OURTHINKINGABOUTDRINKING.COM The History of Jack Daniels and American Whiskey – Bourbon & Oak | No Comments | News There is a reason that Jack Daniel’s is America’s most famous whiskey brand, and it has nothing to do with great marketing or dumb luck. Instead, Tennessee’s most-spirited spirit brand made their mark with one thing: quality.

A dedication to producing a smoother, more consistent straight whiskey than competitors lead to positive word of mouth among notable celebrities and public figures. But diving too deep into that story would skip out on the more interesting journey of Jack Daniels’ beginnings and the beginnings of American whiskey as a whole. To do the true tale of America’s favorite liquor justice, we should start at the beginning. A SURPLUS OF BOTH CORN AND TIME CREATES AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States , the first American settlers wasted no time in finding ingredients to ferment and turn into potent potables. Once they (quickly) ran through their stores of English ale and spirits, they began to experiment with other substances that could produce the desired inebriating effects. Corn was actually the first candidate of note, foreshadowing the important role it would later play in the distinctive flavor of American whiskeys. Other candidates for fermentation included elderberries, pumpkins, pears and honey, all of which were used to make flavored brews or aged into wine-like beverages. Farmers throughout the colony practiced the art of distilling spirits from grain on a small scale.

Many of them were faced with the prospect of losing any extra grains they had harvested to spoilage. Since beer could not last an entire winter, distilled spirits became a more practical alternative. Sealing the beverage in large oak barrels made long-term storage possible, with the added benefit of the wood lending a unique flavor and characteristic amber color. Whether they knew it or not, these enterprising farmers had invented America’s signature liquor in their own backyards. SALE, PROFIT AND THE BEGINNINGS OF THE FAMOUS JACK DANIELS Farmers quickly discovered that their surplus corn could be turned into a handsome profit through the sale of unwanted whiskey barrels. “A bushel of corn made about three gallons and was worth more in liquid form,” writes the official Colonial Williamsburg website. Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel This practice continued well into the American Civil War and its aftermath. At that time, a young orphan known as Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel decided to run away from his caregiver and took up with a local moonshine distiller and part-time preacher named Dan Call. Call originally manufactured moonshine on a small scale, but the diminutive “Jack” Daniel had bigger ambitions, choosing to register the operation as a licensed distillery.

Jack continued to grow his business until he was the second-most popular distillery in his county. He differentiated his product from competitors’ by using only the finest grains and spring water obtained on his property. Then, he would extract harsh impurities by mellowing the distilled product through ten feet of sugar maple charcoal, which was changed out frequently as a quality control measure. This dedication to quality earned the Daniel’s brand a quiet but strong word-of-mouth reputation, culminating in a victory at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair as the finest whiskey in the world. A STEP UP THANKS TO OL’ BLUE EYES Despite Jack Daniel’s stellar reputation among connoisseurs and societal elites, it did not gain national renown until the publication of a 1951 Fortune article touting its celebrity among the likes of Winston Churchill, Ava Gardner, Jackie Gleason and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra was even said to have raised a bottle of Jack Daniels during some of his concerts, calling it “the nectar of the gods.” Frank Sinatra When Fortune’s article was released, Jack Daniel’s exploded in popularity, so much so that the company found it impossible to keep up with demand.

“The sales representatives would literally go into an establishment and let them know how many bottles or cases they could have,” says brand historian Nelson Eddy. This shortage continued until the mid 70’s when the original distillery was torn down and replaced with a more modern version capable of quenching the world’s thirst for the finest American whiskey. The brand had gone from selling a mere 150,000 cases in 1955 to over 11 million cases of the black-label “Old No. 7” version in 2013, and they likely have a long way to go yet. So on behalf of legends like Sinatra, Keith Richards and Motörhead’s Lemmy, we salute you, Jack, for carrying on an American tradition several centuries strong. THE FIRST JACK DANIELS SQUARE BOTTLE WAS PRODUCED IN 1897.

HERE’S WHAT ELSE HAPPENED THAT YEAR: The first Boston Marathon was held on April 19 John Philip Sousa conducts his “ The Stars and Stripes Forever ” march live for the first time Bram Stoker’s Dracula is published in London The Klondike Gold Rush begins in Seattle, with writer Jack London as one of the first wave to arrive Bayer patents a medicinal product called “Aspirin” Mark Twain utters the famous quote in response to his alleged passing: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” The Oldsmobile automotive company is founded The Katzenjammer Kids is published in the New York Journal, making it the longest still-running syndicated comic strip ever William McKinley replaces Grover Cleveland as President of the United States Jack Daniel's opposes changing Tenn. whiskey law Jack Daniel's opposes changing Tenn. whiskey law ERIK SCHELZIG and BRUCE SCHREINER Share View photos File – In this May 20, 2009, file photo, Jeff Arnett, the master distiller at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tenn., drills a hole in a barrel of whiskey in one of the aging houses at the distillery.

Jack Daniel's is fighting efforts in the state Legislature to dial back the legal definition of Tennessee whiskey, including a provision that requires the spirit to be aged in new oak barrels. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, file) More NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — If it isn't fermented in Tennessee from mash of at least 51 percent corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, filtered through maple charcoal and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof, it isn't Tennessee whiskey. So says a year-old law that resembles almost to the letter the process used to make Jack Daniel's, the world's best-known Tennessee whiskey. Now state lawmakers are considering dialing back some of those requirements that they say make it too difficult for craft distilleries to market their spirits as Tennessee whiskey, a distinctive and popular draw in the booming American liquor business. But the people behind Jack Daniel's see the hand of a bigger competitor at work — Diageo PLC, the British conglomerate that owns George Dickel, another Tennessee whiskey made about 15 miles up the road.

"It's really more to weaken a title on a label that we've worked very hard for," said Jeff Arnett, the master distiller at the Jack Daniel's distillery in Lynchburg, Tenn. "As a state, I don't think Tennessee should be bashful about being protective of Tennessee whiskey over say bourbon or scotch or any of the other products that we compete with." Republican state Rep. Bill Sanderson emphasized that his bill wouldn't do away with last year's law enacted largely on the behest of Jack Daniel's corporate parent, Louisville, Ky.,-based Brown-Forman Corp. The principal change would be to allow Tennessee whiskey makers to reuse barrels, which he said would present considerable savings over new ones that can cost $600 each. "There are a lot of ways to make high-quality whiskey, even if it's not necessarily the way Jack Daniel's does it," Sanderson said. "What gives them the right to call theirs Tennessee whiskey, and not others?" Sanderson acknowledged that he introduced the measure at Diageo's urging, but said it would also help micro distilleries opening across the state. Diageo picked up on the same theme.

"This isn't about Diageo, as all of our Tennessee whiskey is made with new oak," said Diageo executive vice president Guy L. Smith IV. "This is about Brown-Forman trying to stifle competition and the entrepreneurial spirit of micro distillers. "We are not sure what they are afraid of, as we feel new innovative products from a new breed of distillers is healthy for the entire industry," he said. Jack Daniel's last year sold 11.5 million cases of it Black Label last year, a 5 percent increase from 2012. Dickel, the second-largest Tennessee whiskey producer, sold 130,000 cases in 2013. The standards and special branding of Tennessee whiskey are an outgrowth of the special designation granted long ago to bourbon. A half-century ago, Congress declared bourbon a distinctive product of the United States. By law, bourbon must be made of a grain mix of at least 51 percent corn, distilled at less than 160 proof, have no additives except water to reduce the proof and be aged in new, charred white oak barrels. Spirits that don't follow those guidelines can't be sold as bourbon.

One example is Brown-Forman's own Early Times, which is marketed as a "Kentucky whisky" because it is made in reused barrels. Billy Kaufman, the president Short Mountain Distillery in Woodbury, Tenn., said it is more difficult to distinguish spirits not meeting the Tennessee standard. "If I made whiskey in Tennessee in a used barrel, what it would be called then?" he said. "Whiskey, made in Tennessee?" David McMahan, a lobbyist representing Dickel and Popcorn Sutton Distilling, said the law passed last year would require all Tennessee whiskies to taste like Jack Daniel's. "It's not unlike if the beer guys 25 years ago had said all American beer has to be made like Budweiser," McMahan said. "You never would have a Sam Adams or a Yazoo or any of those guys." But Tennessee craft distillers are divided about the state law. Charles Nelson, the CEO of Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Nashville, said he supports tighter regulation. "Holding ourselves to a higher standard will ultimately be better for all the people in the category," he said.

"If we lower the standards, it could lead to more products and brands that could lower the reputation of Tennessee whiskey." Whiskey is clear when it goes into the barrel. It's during the aging process that the whiskey acquires color and flavors. Jack Daniel's Arnett said other distillers reusing barrels might resort to using artificial colorings and flavorings that wouldn't match the quality of the whiskey stored in new barrels. "We've been making whiskey a long time, and we know that would not uphold the quality that people expect from Tennessee whiskey," he said. "So we wouldn't dare consider doing it, even though it would save us millions of dollars every year." Jack Daniel's stores its whiskey in new barrels made at a Brown-Forman plant. Sanderson argues that the flavor and color of the whiskey is determined more by the charring of the inside of the barrels, which he said is a process that can be repeated. Consumers would ultimately decide whether the end product matches up. "If they're making an inferior product, the market will decide," he said. ___ Schreiner reported from Frankfort, Ky.

Reblog Facts About Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey - Thrillist Thrillist Log in or Sign Up to start saving places View your Get Thrillist in Your Inbox Discover the very best food, drink and fun in your city. Eat up! I confirm I am at least 21 years old Follow Thrillist Eating Spicy Foods Could Help You Live Longer It’s a staple of bars both high-end and lowbrow . It's the preferred drink of mortals and rock gods alike. It can find its way just as easily into a glass of rocks as into a cocktail. We all know Jack Daniel's, a whiskey so prevalent it’s a household name even in houses located in dry counties. But do you really know Jack? Well, after reading these 15 nuggets of truth, you just might. Though the meaning of the number seven will still elude you. Related Flickr/Leslie 1. Jack Daniel's is the oldest registered distillery in the US Is Jack Daniel's the oldest distillery in the US? Yes and no. Maker's Mark claims it's the oldest, and Laird’s Applejack has been around since the Revolutionary War. Plenty of older distilleries were pumping out rum before whiskey became popular.

But Jack lays claim to being the oldest registered distillery, having registered in 1866 (probably) by a teenage Jack Daniel... he was real, and more on him later. Continue Reading 2. It's Tennessee whiskey... and that's very specific Jack Daniel's is distilled in a process that gives it the title of a Tennessee whiskey, a term recognized by the federal government in 1941, almost 80 years after Daniel started distilling the stuff. The process is different from other American whiskeys in that the spirit is filtered through layers of sugar-maple charcoal. At the distillery, visitors might see huge piles of maple wood being burned on “ricks.” The wood falls into itself as it is burned, making charcoal. The whiskey is then filtered through it over a period of four days, then through white wool to remove any of the charcoal. 3. It's the best-selling American spirit In 2014, Jack Daniel's sold almost $3 billion worth of whiskey. Seeing as the average bottle is around $20, that’s 150 million bottles of Jack Daniel's, give or take.

That number might be reduced by a million or so following the passing of Lemmy, but it should keep JD well ahead of the competition nonetheless. Flickr/Scott Johnson 4. It's made in a dry county That’s right: the best-selling American whiskey is made in an area where it cannot be sold. Lynchburg in Moore County has been a dry city since Prohibition, even after repeal. While you can tour the facility and taste the whiskeys (only on the "enhanced tour"), you can't buy Jack Daniel's where it’s made. Except... Flickr/jshyun 5. You can totally buy Jack Daniel's at the distillery While the county is dry and you cannot purchase whiskey, there is nothing prohibiting the sale of bottles. A commemorative bottle sets you back around the same price as a bottle of Gentleman Jack, and just happens to come filled with the same product. Remember though: you're buying the bottle, not the whiskey inside of it. There is another way to buy it, too... 6. You can buy your own barrel It’s not cheap, but if you want your very own single barrel, you can make your way to the distillery and taste straight from them.

You can then pick your favorite and buy the entire barrel. If you can’t make it to Tennessee, you can still call or email, let them know your taste preferences, and have them pick one out for you. It’s the perfect Father’s Day gift for a dad who has it all, including an incredibly wealthy child and a place to store a big-ass barrel of brown liquor. Flickr/no_typographic_man 7. There are many types of Jack Daniel's While the flagship Old No. 7 is the most popular and well-known type of Jack, there are other varieties as well. The Gentleman Jack is double filtered, compared to the single-filtered No. 7; the single barrel is, well, from a single barrel, but is also stronger at 94 proof (compared to the usual 80 proof); and the honey and cinnamon whiskeys are blended with honey liqueur and cinnamon liqueur, respectively. The flavored Jacks are at a lower proof, due to blending. There are also many specials and limited-edition bottles, including the Sinatra Century, honoring the late singer on his 100th birthday because... 8.

It was Frank Sinatra's favorite whiskey Dean Martin once sang, "I love Vegas like Sinatra loves Jack Daniel's." It's no urban myth: Frank Sinatra loved the Tennessee whiskey so much he was buried with a bottle of it, along with a Zippo lighter, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and 10 dimes. Jack Daniel’s released the Sinatra Special as well as the Century. In January, it did the same for Motörhead singer Lemmy Kilmister, who reportedly drank a bottle a day for 30 years. Speaking of... 9. You can now call a Jack & Coke a "Lemmy" Most bartenders (the ones worth knowing, anyway) will know exactly what you’re talking about if you roll in and order up a Lemmy in honor of the recently deceased ace of spades. We told you the dude knew what he liked. related Flickr/Thomas Hawk 10. No one seems to know what the number seven stands for When you order Jack at most bars, chances are you’re getting a shot of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7. For about as long as it has been bottled, Jack Daniel’s whiskey has borne the number seven, and to this day there is still argument about it.

The most popular theory is that his distillery was registered as number seven by the government, though this contradicts our first fact. Others have suggested that it represents his seven lovers (Daniel was never married). Whatever the case, many claim to know for sure, but it’s still a mystery. 11. Jack Daniel wasn't the founder's real name Jack Daniel was a real guy, but that wasn’t his real name. Jasper Newton Daniel was named for two Revolutionary War heroes, but friends and family called him Jack. Our advice: don’t order a "Jasper Newton Daniel on the rocks" unless you want some serious eye-rolls from your bartender, and probably a lousy pour for it. 12. He was a teenager when he was distilling... probably Again, there is ambiguity to Jack Daniel’s life. While some reports claim he was born in 1850, making him 13 when he bought the distillery from Call and 16 when he registered it, other reports claim his mother died in 1847. That would make it very hard for her to have had Daniel. Other dates given are September 5th, 1856, and January of 1849.

Whatever the case, he was a young man when he bought and registered the Jack Daniel’s distillery. Flickr/Brian Collins 13. It's a large legacy for a small man Jack only stood at 5’4”, and his statue stands as high. While people were certainly smaller in the 1800s, he was still short by the century’s standards. 14. The town it's named for is small, too Not, like, 361 small. That was the population when the label was trademarked, and so now every bottle of Jack sports that little bit of census history. Still, at under 7,000 in Lynchburg, it's not exactly a booming metropolis. Hell, they don't even have a proper bar! 15. Jack might have died kicking a safe The legend of Daniel’s passing has been challenged by recent biographers, but as it goes, it was his temper that did him in. The company’s books were locked in a safe, and his nephew, Lem Motlow, was the one who usually opened it. One morning, Daniel arrived to work early, before his nephew.

He tried to open the safe, but, as usual, could not remember the combination. Frustrated, he kicked the safe, breaking his big toe. This led to a blood infection that, years later in 1911, he eventually succumbed to. Before he died, he passed the distillery on to Motlow and another nephew, though Motlow ended up buying the other out. Motlow died in 1947, and thankfully never changed the name to his own. Because a Lem Motlow doesn’t quite sound like a thirst-quencher. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. Alex Frane is a Portland native who specializes in in food, drink, and bar culture. Follow him: @franiacdrinks .

Tennessee distillers hustle to stave off whiskey shortage Tennessee distillers hustle to stave off whiskey shortage Jack Daniel, other distillers hustle, plan expansions as whiskey sales explode Post to Facebook Tennessee distillers hustle to stave off whiskey shortage Jack Daniel, other distillers hustle, plan expansions as whiskey sales explode Check out this story on Tennessean.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 4 Tennessee distillers hustle to stave off whiskey shortage cwilliams1@tennessean.com 6:46 p.m. CDT June 6, 2014 Buy Photo Clayton Cutler is chief distiller at TennSouth Distillery in Lynnville, which has Tennessee whiskey aging in oak barrels. The distillery has been open about a year, and the first whiskey won’t be ready until the fall. (Photo: Shelley Mays / The Tennessean)Buy Photo Is there a whiskey shortage looming? Yes, indeed, according to distillers and industry observers, who point to a worldwide boom in consumption of bourbon and whiskey, and in particular Tennessee whiskey, the fastest-growing variety.

From millennials transitioning from craft beers and wine, to baby boomers coming back into the fold — and international consumers experiencing it for the first time — American whiskey is enjoying a revival. Annual sales rose 10.2 percent in the past year alone, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Distilled Spirits Council. "We have seen an explosion internationally," said David Ozgo, chief economist for the DSC, the trade group representing America's distillers. Exports of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey exceeded $1 billion last year, up from $400 million just a decade ago. RELATED: Nashville airport loosens rules on carrying booze Driving the growth has been the easing of tariffs on whiskeyin many international markets, including China, Australia and South Korea, opening the door to American whiskey imports. It means big business for Tennessee, where distilled spirits — primarily Tennessee whiskey from big producers Jack Daniel and George Dickel — accounted for $1.7 billion in economic activity in 2011, the last year for which data are available, according to Ozgo.

The state now has about 25 distilleries, ranging in size from Jack Daniel in Lynchburg with nearly 500 employees to some small craft distillers with just a few, said Billy Kaufman, president of the Tennessee Distillers Guild and owner of the Short Mountain Distillery near Woodbury. "Distilleries brand the state," Kaufman said, noting that Jack Daniel's alone has made Tennessee whiskey a household name around the world. Jack Daniel's brands account for about 95 percent of the state's whiskey exports. The American whiskey market fell into decline for more than two decades beginning around 1980, as drinkers turned to such substitutes as vodka, rum and tequila. It began its revival in 2000, and since then has gained 6 percentage points in its share of the U.S. domestic alcohol beverage market, to 34.7 percent, Ozgo said. And in the past couple of years, even though vodka is still growing, "whiskey has really taken off," he said. To underscore the possibility of a shortage, gains in whiskey sales are outpacing production increases by at least 2-to-1, industry experts say.

That's prompting distillers to rush to head off a crisis, said Clayton Cutler, chief distiller at the Tenn South Distillery in Lynnville, one of the newest players. But there's really no way to put a rush on good whiskey, he said. "It's not like you can ramp up production today and have that whiskey on the market tomorrow," said Cutler, whose distillery specializes in Tennessee whiskey made the old-fashioned way — filtered through sugar maple charcoal, as pioneered by Jack Daniel. "There's an aging process that requires a wait of at least a couple of years before you can start selling it," he said. "Some takes four years or more." Tenn South has about 200 barrels of its signature Clayton James Tennessee Whiskey aging in its warehouse now, and the first batch will reach maturity sometime this fall, he said. In the meantime, the distillery is working overtime to put up more barrels. What's driving the growth domestically is the proliferation of small craft distilleries, which have begun popping up all over in Tennessee since the state legislature relaxed rules in 2009 on where they can operate, expanding legal distilling from just three to now 41 of the state's 95 counties.

Just like what the market saw earlier with craft brewers, consumers looking for something new and different are embracing the small distilleries, whose homespun whiskey products are becoming staples at trendy bars and restaurants. But it's not just the craft distillers benefiting from the whiskey renaissance, said Jeff Arnett, master distiller at Jack Daniel in Lynchburg, the world's largest producer of Tennessee whiskey. "It's an exciting time to be in the whiskey business," he said. "A rising tide raises all ships, and the craft distillers have been good for all the big American whiskey brands. We've definitely seen a lift from it. They're making whiskey more exciting and bringing more people into the whiskey segment. They're popping up all over, in convenient tourist places, and they're driving more tourism business for us. It's fascinating." Last Slide Next Slide Jack Daniel has been growing very well on its own, though, even before the craft distillers came onto the scene, Arnett said. While the domestic market is still growing, international sales of the brand have been rising by increasingly higher margins.

"Jack Daniel's experienced double-digit volume growth in five of its top 10 volume markets, including Germany, France, Poland, Russia and Turkey" during 2013, the company said in its annual report. To help stave off a shortage and support the rapid growth, Jack Daniel last year announced plans for a $100 million expansion of distilling and warehouse space, which will allow it to increase production by up to 20 percent in tiny Lynchburg. "We've been seeing this coming," Arnett said. "We have seen globally that scotch is losing its position as the go-to whiskey. The new generation appreciates American whiskey for its flavor and mixability. Jack Daniel has been fortunate that even before that shift, we have been able to grow. We've been slowly adding warehouses, as well as fermenting and distilling capacity." Flavored whiskeys are the latest trend, something that's been embraced not only by the craft distillers, but even by the big brands such as Jack Daniel. "These flavored whiskeys have become a whole new market, helping to drive growth in the industry," Arnett said.

"Our Tennessee Honey brand is in the majority of markets where our Black Label is, and it's growing very well. We've introduced our new Tennessee Fire cinnamon whiskey in three states — Tennessee, Oregon and Pennsylvania — and it's doing very well so far." Lincoln County distiller Phil Prichard, whose products include rum and whiskey, said the impending whiskey shortage will help his sales in two ways. "People will buy my whiskey, of course, but when there's a shortage of whiskey, they'll be turning to rum," he said. "The demand for whiskey is huge right now, and for those of us in the rum business, we think that's absolutely marvelous. If I were only in the whiskey business, I might be crying in my glass right now. "The big guys have a certain amount of reserves," said Prichard, who just opened his newest distillery at the Fontanel Mansion in Whites Creek. "But people like me can't keep up with the demand. We're trying to meter our Tennessee whiskey so we don't have to allocate it." The Corsair Artisan Distillery, one of Nashville's first craft whiskey operations, is ramping up to meet the challenge, said owner-distiller Darek Bell.

"We're investing a lot into expansion to build up more stocks," he said. "We've already gotten into 25 states and eight foreign countries, but we couldn't get into any more because demand from those markets keeps us from expanding. It's a great problem to have, but I don't want people to get angry and go off to another category like rum or something else." Making more whiskey does take time, though, even for the little guys, Bell said. "We could buy the biggest still in the world and the market isn't going to see any impact for a while," he said. "Every year we've been in business we've been in short supply; we never have been able to keep up with demand. The stuff we're making this week was sold (to distributors) months ago, but it hasn't even aged yet. Three years ago, we were already rationing our production." While Corsair started out with a focus on gin, "our biggest focus now is aged whiskeys," Bell said. "We're expanding to try to keep up with the demand for aged spirits," he said. "But you never know what the market's going to want three or four years from now.

We're trying to lay down as much as we can, and we haven't seen any slowing of demand." As whiskey production ramps up, there's another concern for the distillers: a growing shortage of the white oak barrels needed for the aging of the product. CLOSE x Share Tenn South Distillery's Clayton Cutler talks about how he's hedging against a possible whiskey shortage. G. Chambers Williams III / The Tennessean "That's becoming a big concern as well," said Cutler, whose Tenn South Distillery is scrambling to find a new supplier because its regular barrel maker has already sold out of the standard 53-gallon size "for the rest of 2014." Jack Daniel's parent company, Louisville, Ky.-based Brown-Forman Corp., recently opened a new barrel production facility in north Alabama to serve the Lynchburg distillery, Arnett said. But those barrels aren't available to distillers outside the Brown-Forman fold. Reach G. Chambers Williams III at 615-259-8076 and on Twitter @gchambers3.

1175 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN 4 COMMENTEMAILMORE Read or Share this story: WHISKEY - LIQUOR LIQUOR You have no items in your shopping cart. Subtotal: $0.00 WHISKEY WHISKEY Buy American Whiskey Online & Get it Delivered Crafted in the United States’ early beginnings, American whiskey has grown to become traditional beverage of the American culture. Whether you enjoy a highly-concentrated blend whiskey or a light-spirit whiskey, you are sure to find just the brand you want at Worldwide Wine & Spirits. From popular Tennessee Whiskey brands like Jack Daniels to Kentucky whiskey, or “bourbon”, you can buy American whiskey online. We have the best whiskies from all over the states, so shop today and have your favorite delivered straight to your doorstep! About American whiskey The most identifiable form of whiskey from the states is bourbon. The classic beverage is not the easiest drink to embrace but it certainly is worth the adventure. The rich and distilled flavors of whiskey are incomparable to any other beverage. America holds two main whiskey capitals: Kentucky and Tennessee. Essentially, the taste of the two remain highly similar, however, they do have some differentiating brands and features.

The most well-known brands stemming from Tennessee whiskey are Jack Daniels and George Dickel. The blended whiskey from this state not only holds a high alcohol content, but is very rich and concentrated. Tennessee whiskey tastes most similar to that of bourbon and is great to be enjoyed slowly on a Friday night. Another whiskey state, or bourbon state, rather, is Kentucky. Kentucky whiskey is better known as bourbon and holds traditions as old as the 1870’s. The most common brand is Jim Beam. This bourbon’s taste shines when it is over the rocks or even just straight and sour. Whatever your preference, when you buy American whiskey online at Worldwide Wine & Spirits you will find only the best quality whiskies from all over the states, each unique in its own way. Commitment to Great Service At Worldwide Wine & Spirits are committed to bringing you the best online shopping experience. We have a fantastic selection of whiskies at affordable prices. We are committed to matching the right beverage for every customer. Our customer service is here to answer any questions you may have when looking to buy American whiskey online! Browse our site now and see how much can save.

Add to Cart ABOUT US We strive to provide the best quality products and service for all our customers to ensure a timely delivery! Whiskey makes a comeback FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Whiskey makes a comeback Surging demand for Jack Daniel's, George Dickel and other brands is felt from Lynchburg to Nashville and beyond. Post to Facebook Whiskey makes a comeback Surging demand for Jack Daniel's, George Dickel and other brands is felt from Lynchburg to Nashville and beyond. Check out this story on Tennessean.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 6 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Whiskey makes a comeback Lizzy Alfs , lalfs@tennessean.com Published 9:01 p.m. CT March 5, 2016 | Updated 11:57 a.m. CT March 6, 2016 CLOSE Arnett speaks about the brand and Lynchburg, Tenn., facility.

Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean Buy Photo Kohl Rogers, a still operator, closes the try box after filling a bottle with a sample of whiskey at the George Dickel distillery in Tullahoma, Tenn. Samples are periodically pulled for quality control purposes. (Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)Buy Photo Construction equipment is strewn about the hills that sweep across Jack Daniel’s sprawling southern Tennessee distillery property — a small price to pay for a resurgence of the American whiskey industry. The machinery, siding and temporary fencing on the otherwise bucolic landscape are a byproduct of a new $140 million expansion project that, the company announced last month, is needed to keep up with increased demand for one of Tennessee’s most iconic products. U.S. whiskey sales are on a five-year upswing, with supplier revenues rising 8 percent — roughly double the 4.1 percent growth in the overall distilled spirits sector — last year alone to eclipse $8 billion, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

Whiskey’s comeback comes, in part, at the expense of the fading vodka industry, which has seen sales slow after exploding in the 1980s and 1990s. Although vodka remains the top-selling spirit by volume, revenue inched up only 0.5 percent last year. Last Slide Next Slide Instead, drinkers are increasingly choosing whiskey — particularly American styles, including bourbon, rye and Tennessee whiskey, said David Ozgo, chief economist for DISCUS. Distillers sold more than 20 million cases of American whiskeys in 2015. “We’re really entering a period of whiskey nirvana. The consumer just has an incredible fascination with the product, and the marketplace is responding with a variety of well-crafted, easy-to-drink products,” Ozgo said. Are You Bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey Or Rye? Tennessee whiskey, defined by state law and bound by a rigid distilling process, remains one of the state’s top exports and is increasing its overall market share. Supplier sales rose by 7.4 percent last year, compared with the 5.2 percent growth in the broader American whiskey category.

That demand, coupled with loosened restrictions on where distillers can operate in the state, is giving way to a new crop of whiskey-makers working to pack store shelves with a host of new brands. Once dominated by big producers Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel, there are now 30-plus distillers in the state. “Whiskey is in somewhat of a renaissance,” said Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniel’s master distiller. “There are more people drinking and looking at whiskeys than there ever have been.” Buy Photo (Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean) Nashville's whiskey scene Nashville brothers Charlie and Andy Nelson are among a new generation of area distillers looking to get in on Tennessee whiskey's renewed popularity, deciding back in 2006 to resurrect their great-great-great-grandfather’s once-thriving business. Charles Nelson's Green Brier Distillery was the largest maker of Tennessee whiskey in the late 1800s, but statewide Prohibition shuttered the operation in 1909. Today, the revived Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery occupies 30,000 square feet in Nashville’s Marathon Village complex and employs nearly 30 people.

The distillery’s yet-to-be-released signature Tennessee whiskey is aging in barrels. Meanwhile, the company’s Belle Meade Bourbon, Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee White Whiskey and Belle Meade Bourbon Sherry Cask Finish have already hit the market. “The demand for whiskey worldwide is just crazy right now,” Charlie Nelson said. “We’ve had people reaching out to us from pretty much every state in the country … and distributors and importers from different countries, asking about Tennessee whiskey and bourbon.” Nelson’s Green Brier is just one Nashville distillery working to meet growing consumer demand. Corsair Distillery, which produces handcrafted, small batch spirits such as Quinoa Whiskey and Vanilla Bean Vodka, recently opened a new facility in Wedgewood-Houston and plans to open another one to increase capacity. 30 best songs about whiskey All around Nashville, consumers are proving they’re thirsty for whiskey of all kinds. Grant Johnson, a manager at Red Spirits & Wine, said whiskey is one of the highest sales volume categories for the liquor store.

“The entire whiskey category is really good for us, one of our best, but what we’re seeing is the aficionado types, who for a while were just after the new bourbons or cool new Tennessee whiskeys, (and) are now branching out,” Johnson said, referring to growing interest in Scotch, Irish whiskeys and Japanese whiskeys. Buy Photo (Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean) A Tennessee tradition A centuries-old industry in Tennessee, whiskey-making flourished in the late 1880s with hundreds of distillers across the state. However, Prohibition closed those operations and nearly killed the industry. After a 29-year hiatus, Jack Daniel’s started making whiskey again in Lynchburg in 1938. Just 18 miles northeast, George Dickel was rebuilt near Tullahoma in 1958. Those two big-name brands have largely dominated the Tennessee whiskey industry for decades. In 2013 state law established a legal definition of Tennessee whiskey for the first time. Known as the “Lincoln County Process,” it requires bourbon to be filtered through maple charcoal and aged in new, charred-oak barrels.

There are only a handful of Tennessee whiskey-makers in the state, but several newer distillers are in the process of aging their own brands, which are expected to land in liquor stores in the coming years. The one exemption from the law is Prichard’s Distillery, which opened a facility in Kelso in 1999 and was grandfathered in. The distiller sells Tennessee whiskey that does not undergo the charcoal mellowing process. Last Slide Next Slide Ozgo, the chief economist at DISCUS, said the labor-intensive whiskey-making process — and its storied history in America — has helped spur consumer interest in the product. “There’s something romantic about distilling whiskey in copper stills and then sending it away in these very, very charming barrels for a number of years,” Ozgo said. Another key factor in whiskey’s recent boom was the launch of AMC’s television series "Mad Men." The show is often credited with helping to popularize brown spirits and helping to drive the modern craft cocktail movement. From Sinatra to Stapleton: How music boosts Tennessee whiskey “We like to say it’s the whole ‘Mad Men’ craze of Don Draper bringing back the classic cocktails.

… Things like the Manhattan and Old Fashioned, those are just examples of a few things that are popular again,” said George Dickel distiller Allisa Henley. Whiskey's rise also has benefited U.S. farmers. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, corn production used in spirits jumped 176 percent from 2010 to 2014, and rye production used in spirits grew 64 percent during that time period. Buy Photo (Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean) Industry remains bullish As Jack Daniel’s celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, the distiller is anticipating a record 300,000 visitors will pass through for tours and tastings. George Dickel also expects a record 25,000 visitors this year. The company, owned by London-based Diageo, the world’s largest distilled spirits company, plans to add a new warehouse to its 600-acre property to increase capacity.

Arnett said Jack Daniel’s $140 million expansion — which comes just three years after a $103 million project — will include renovating the visitor center, building two new barrelhouses and expanding the existing bottling facility. There are 87 barrelhouses spread across the behemoth’s 2,000-acre property, each packed floor to ceiling with aging whiskey. The expansion will add about 30 jobs to the 500-employee operation. Louisville, Ky.-based parent company Brown-Forman, which reported $684 million in net income last year, employs about 4,400 workers. Arnett said Jack Daniel’s sells 12 million to 13 million cases of its flagship “Black Label” whiskey per year. The company’s products are sold in 160 countries. 7 best places to drink whiskey in Nashville Still, the U.S. accounts for about 40 percent of Jack Daniel’s overall market share, and Arnett said there is plenty of growth opportunity at home, particularly with flavored whiskeys and rye.

The company released its Single Barrel Rye earlier this year that's made with 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn and 12 percent malted barley. Still a small segment of overall whiskey sales, rye's marked growth in popularity in recent years — supplier sales jumped from $15 million in 2009 to $129 million in 2015, according to DISCUS — gives Tennessee's distillers another source of optimism that the industry's upward trajectory will continue in the coming years. “I still believe that (rye) could be a huge opportunity for us going forward. That gives us a reason to believe we can grow the U.S. market and any other market that we’re currently in because we’re going to try to continue to put out new offerings that kind of keep interest around our brand,” Arnett said. Reach Lizzy Alfs at 615-726-5948 and on Twitter @lizzyalfs .

Question: In which American state is Jack Daniels whiskey distilled
Answer: Tennessee